The U.S. Men’s National Team fell to Belgium 1-0 during a match played in rainy conditions as a 55th minute goal from Nicolas Lombaerts proved to be the game winner.
The U.S. had an 86th-minute goal from Maurice Edu disallowed for an apparent offside and could not manufacture a late equalizer.
“I think it was an interesting game for both sides,” said U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “You saw in the first 25 minutes we had good passing movement and we were really involved in the game. The Belgian side, with their individual class, created some good chances before halftime. Second half, the reaction was very positive after conceding the goal. We kept moving forward and we kept creating chances. We take a lot away from this game. Overall some very, very good points and an interesting game I think for everybody.”
In the first match under Klinsmann on foreign soil, he started the same 4-3-3 formation as four days ago against Costa Rica, albeit with slightly different personnel. Clint Dempsey returned to the U.S. lineup and slotted into a three-man center midfield alongside Jose Torres and in front of Edu.
Clarence Goodson got the start at center back alongside captain Carlos Bocanegra while veteran Steve Cherundolo, who along with Dempsey stayed in Europe for the USA’s Sept. 2 clash with Costa Rica, returned to his usual spot at right back, moving Timmy Chandler to the left.
The USA’s three-pronged forward line was the same as it was against Costa Rica, featuring Jozy Altidore in the middle with Brek Shea and Robbie Rogers on the wings.
The match was high-paced and the U.S. had good possession in the first 20 minutes or so, but then the Belgians started stringing passes together as they took control of the tempo.
The USA’s best chance of the first half came in the fifth minute as Dempsey pounded a free kick off the wet turf that struck Belgium goalkeeper Simon Mignolet in the face. Altidore tried to follow up the rebound but was clipped from behind by Toby Alderweireld before he could get a strike on the ball.
In the 18th minute, Torres whipped in a left-footed free kick from outside the penalty area near the right sideline, but bent it just over the upper corner at the far post.
In the 26th minute, Belgium kick-started its attack that would produce 13 shots overall in the match when Timmy Simons fired a drive from outside the penalty arc that flew through traffic. U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, who had an excellent match while making four saves, made a fantastic stop, diving low to his right to power the ball out of danger.
Two minutes later, Dries Mertens finished a nice move down the left with cut inside to the top of the penalty area and then fired a shot that screamed just outside the left post.
In the 30th minute another quick series of passes got the crafty Eden Hazard into the left side of the box. He did well to cut back just in front of the left end line to lose the sliding Cherundolo, but his driven shot from a sharp angle was saved by the well-positioned Howard.
The U.S. called upon Howard again in the 34th minute as Marouane Fellaini sent a blistering volley on frame from a Mertens cross. Howard, who had just an instant to react before the ball pounded his gloves, pushed it out of danger once again.
At halftime, Klinsmann sent on Juan Agudelo for Altidore and Kyle Beckerman for Rogers, moving Dempsey to right midfield. The U.S. had a half-chance to take the lead early in the half as Beckerman ran onto a poorly cleared ball at the top of the penalty area, but he skied a shot over the goal.
The Belgian goal came 10 minutes into the second half off a throw-in from the right sideline. Edu challenged Fellaini in the air and the ball skimmed off the Belgian’s head to the top of the penalty area where Lombaerts laced a 22-yard shot off the wet turf under the diving Howard. The U.S. goalkeeper, who was screened by several players, got a piece of the ball but could not turn it away as it skidded under his left arm and into the net.
The U.S. had a few looks at goal in the final 20 minutes, mostly through Dempsey, but did not do much to challenge Mignolet. In the 70th minute, Dempsey feinted his way into the left corner of the penalty area, beating a defender with a wind-up, but struck his rolling shot right at the Belgian ‘keeper.
Ten minutes later, Dempsey found Shea with a pass into the left side of the box, and for a moment the tall U.S. winger had glimpse at goal, but several defenders closed the space and his shot was blocked.
The USA’s disallowed goal came with four minutes left in regulation as Cherundolo bent a long free kick into the penalty area. Goodson won the ball in a pack of players, knocking it down with a header for Edu, who showed some finishing class by running under the bouncing ball and looping his own header into the lower left corner, only to turn to his right and see the assistant referee with his flag aloft.
In the 89th minute, Shea finished a long run down left flank with a pass into the middle to Dempsey who fired a first-time shot with the outside of his right foot, but it took a deflection off a defender and Mignolet was able to grab it easily.
The U.S. team will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 8, when the Americans host 2010 World Cup participant Honduras in an international friendly at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Kickoff for the USA’s first match in South Florida since 2004 is set for 6 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on FOX Soccer and Univision. Tickets for the match go on sale Sept. 15 on ussoccer.com.
